Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-06-24
THE MAXIM MACHINE GUN.
Ar Engine which Fires Six Hundred
Shots n Minute.


Statisicians inform us that the entire
loss of life in wars between So-callcd civil
lied countries from the ycar 1903 To 1877
has reached the enormous amount OF
100000. To many persons these figures
convey sad and salutary lesson. On the
other hand. there are many who act as if
they needed or knew them not Readers will
differ as TO whether ii is laudablc or other
wise TO invent any means by which the
above figures might possibly be increased;
but, leaving the sentimental part OF the
subject aside, all Will readily unite in adj
hiring the wonderful mechanism which
makes the Maxim machine gun an engine
of terrible dcstructiycncss. Particular in
tercst attaches 10 it at the present time ow-
ing TO the fact that the great African eX-
plOrcr, Stanley, provided himself with
this formidable weapon, to be used defcns-
lively in the expedition on which he re-
Gently started for the relief OF Emin Bey.
Moreover, 1t obtained gold medal at the
Inventions Exhibition, and has been APP
proved of, If not actually adopted, by
many governments. the Chinese Govern
ment being particularly mentioned Is one
OF the largest purchasers.
It's rate of tiring-600 rounds Il minute
is at least three times as rapid as that of
"a
gle barrel which, when the shot is fired,
reCoils distance of three quarters Of an
inch on the other parts of the gun. This
rccoil sets moving the machinery which
automatically keeps up continuous fire
al the extraordinary rate of ten rounds a
second. Each rccoll Of the barrel has
therefore to perform the necessary iunc-
tons of extracting and eiccting the empty
cartridge OF bringing UP the next full one
and placing it in It's proper position in the
barrel, of cooking the hammer and pulling
the trigger. As long rs the firing con
tinues these functions are repeated round
after round in succession. The barrel is
provided with water jacket, to prevent
excessive heating; and IS 50 mounted that
it can be raised or lowered or set at an
angle, or turned horizontally 10 the left or
to the right. The bore is adapted to the
present size Of cartridges; and the maxi
mum range is 500 yards The gun
can therefore be made to sweep a
circle upwards of mile in radius.
Nor Is the gun excessively heavy, It's
total weight being only l0G pounds, made
up thus: Tripod, 30 pounds; pivot (on
which the gun turns and by which il is
attached TO the tripod l6 pounds; gun
and firing mechanism, 40 pounds. The
parts can be easily detached and Convcn
icntly folded for carriage, and may be put
together again so quickly that If the belt
containing the cartridges Is in position, the
first shot can be delivered within ten Sec
onds. 1t would, therefore, BE- extremely
serviceable in preventing disaster through
a body of troops being surprised. Recon
noitering parties, too, would deem il pru-
dent to pay greater Difference to an en-
emys lonely sentry on advanced outpost
duty if the latter were provided with this
new machine gun, instead of the ordinary
rifle.
Immediately below the barrel Of the gun
box is placed containing the belt which
carries the cartridges. The belts vary in
length. Those commonly used are seven
feet long and capable of holding 1913 car
tridgcs; shorter ones hold i20 cartridges,
but the several pieces can bc Joined to-
gether for continuous firing. Single shots
can be fired at any time, whether the belt
is in position or nOt-in the former case
by pressing "A button, which prevents the
recoil in the latter, by handwriting in
the ordinary way. To start firing, one
end of the belt is inserted in the gun, the
trigger is pulled by the hand once, after
which the movement becomes continuou,
and automatic as long as the supply OF
cartridges lasts. At each rccOil Of the bar
rel the belt is pushed sufficiently upward
TO bring the next cartridge into position
the mechanism grasps this cartridge
draws it from the belt and passes it on to
the barrel. Should faulty or an empty
cartridge find its way in, and the gun doe
not 90 off in consequence, there is, oil
course, no rccoil 10 keep up the repeating
action, and the mechanism ceases 10 worl
until the obstruction is removed.